The Prototype Integration Facility designed, qualified, fabricated and installed a prototype of an enhanced Ballistic Protection System for the cabin of the UH-60 Black Hawk aircraft. (Army)

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The Army reports it is outfitting its CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with lightweight ballistic armor designed to offer more protection to pilot and cargo areas against small arms fire.

The lightweight armor, called Ballistic Protection Systems, is made of composite materials that can cut 2,000 pounds from the weight of the original protection, the Army said in a release.

The Chinook's new armor weighs 2,000 pounds, which is 1,500 pounds less than its current armor. The CH-47 D/F is getting includes a floor kit, a passenger vertical kit, and transparent window armor.

The new armor for the Black Hawk is 500 pounds less than the weight of the current armor.

The lighter armor was designed, fabricated and installed by the Prototype Integration Facility, part of the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center.